Catalyst and a method for the trimerization of isocyanates

ABSTRACT

A method is described of preparing (poly)isocyanurate polyisocyanates by catalytic cyclotrimerization of isocyanates. A catalytic system is used which includes a cyclotrimerization catalyst based on a quatemary ammonium salt and imidazole as a cocatalyst.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY/PCT APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of FR 97/13855, filed Nov. 4, 1997, and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/530,607 filed Jul. 15, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,635,761, which was a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/FR98/02359 filed on Nov. 4, 1998, both hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

The invention relates to a catalyst used for the catalytic cyclotrimerization of monomeric isocyanates to (poly)isocyanurate polyisocyanates and to a method of preparing (poly)isocyanurate polyisocyanates by catalytic cyclotrimerization of monomeric isocyanates.

It is known to prepare isocyanate trimers by catalytic trimerization of an isocyanate using a catalyst based on a quaternary ammonium hydroxide.

Thus, EP-003 765 describes the partial cyclotrimerization of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI or 1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane) using a quaternary hydroxyalkylammonium hydroxide as catalyst.

Generally speaking, catalysts based on a quaternary ammonium hydroxide have a very high reactivity, which makes it difficult to control the trimerization reaction, especially when the initial isocyanate is an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic isocyanate.

In addition, control of the reaction is made still more difficult owing to the possible variations in the hydrolysable chlorine content of the initial isocyanate, which is a result of the phosgenation process used to synthesize these isocyanates.

It is also known that the effectiveness of the catalyst is reduced when the content of hydrolysable chlorine in the IPDI increases.

The content of hydrolysable chlorine also effects the coloration of the crude reaction product, which goes up as the amount of chlorine increases.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,992 describes, moreover, catalysts for the catalytic trimerization of isocyanates, the said catalysts being quaternary ammonium salts whose anion is represented by OH⁻ or by the formula ⁻OOC—(O)_(a)—Y in which Y is selected from:

a hydrogen atom,

an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms,

an alkenyl group having 2 to 15 carbon atoms,

a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms,

a phenyl group,

an alkylphenyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical or in the groups attached to the phenyl ring,

a benzyl group,

a carbamate group,

an alkylbenzyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical or in the groups attached to the benzyl ring, and

a group CH_((3-b))Z_((b)) in which b is an integer from 1 to 3 and Z is OH, CN, Cl, an alkoxy group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a phenyl or methoxyphenyl group, or

Z is (CH₂)_(d)COOR in which d is an integer from 0 to 4 and R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having up to 20 carbon atoms;

and a is zero or 1.

However, the anions illustrated in this patent are all anions derived from an alkylcarboxylic acid. Generally speaking, the catalysts described in this document do not allow the desired objective to be attained.

The objective of the invention is to provide a catalyst for cyclotrimerizing isocyanates, especially diisocyanates, which allows the reaction to be controlled while giving an acceptable degree of conversion, which should not substantially be dependent on the content of hydrolysable chlorine of the initial isocyanate, and which makes it possible to obtain a product whose coloration is not particularly marked.

The objective of the invention is also to provide a method of the catalytic trimerization of isocyanates, in particular for the partial cyclotrimerization of diisocyanates, which should be easy to control, which has little or no dependence on the content of hydrolysable chlorine in the monomeric isocyanate, and which as far as possible reduces the coloration of the crude reaction product.

It has now surprisingly been found that the catalysts of ionic type whose counteranion is the hydrogencarbonate anion allow the desired objective to be attained.

These catalysts are formed by a bulky monoatomic or polyatomic cation either as such or in the form of a complex formed with a complexing agent, in particular of the cryptand type.

The invention therefore relates to the use as catalyst for the cyclotrimerization reaction of isocyanates of a hydrogencarbonate of a cation which either as it is or in the form complexed with a complexing agent has an average molecular or ionic radius of more than 1 Å, preferably greater than 1.5 Å, as defined in the tables of Shannon and Prewitt in Acta Cris., 1969, vol. B25, page 925, and which is at least partially soluble in the reaction medium.

Advantageously, the cation is selected from the cations of bulky alkali metals, especially rubidium and caesium.

The cation may also consist of a light alkali metal cation in complexed form. Mention may be made in particular of sodium and potassium cations complexed by crown ethers.

The cation may likewise consist of a molecular species in which all of the atoms are linked by covalent bonds.

In this respect mention may be made of the onium-type cations, of which representative species are phosphoniums, sulphoniums and quaternary ammoniums.

Particular preference is given to the hydrogencarbonates of cations of the following formula I:

in which

-   Q is a nitrogen, phosphorus or sulphur atom; and -   R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are identical or different and are unsubstituted     or hydroxylated alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl     radicals having 4 to 15 carbon atoms which are unsubstituted or     substituted by hydroxyl groups, aralkyl radicals having 7 to 15     carbon atoms which are unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxyl     groups, or aryl radicals having 6 to 15 carbon atoms which are     unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxyl groups, or else, when Q is     N, two of the radicals R₁, R₂, R₃ or R₄ may also form, together with     the nitrogen atom and, if appropriate, with a heteroatom, especially     oxygen or nitrogen, a heterocyclic ring having 4 to 6 carbon atoms,     or else, when Q is N, the radicals R₁, R₂ and R₃ are each ethylene     radicals which form, in combination with the quaternary nitrogen     atom and another, tertiary nitrogen atom, a bicyclic     triethylenediamine skeleton, -   or one of R₁ to R₄ is a group

in which R₅, R₆ and R₇ are identical or different and are hydrogen, an OH group, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 5 to 7 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, an alkynyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, or a group R₈—O—(CH₂)_(n) in which R₈ is hydrogen, an alkyl radical having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl radical having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, an aralkyl radical having 7 to 10 carbon atoms or an aryl radical having 6 to 10 carbon atoms; and n is an integer ranging from 1 to 6; R₇ can also be a group OCOR₉ in which R₉ is a C₁–C₆ alkyl group, preferably a C₁–C₄ alkyl group and, more particularly, the methyl group.

The cation is represented more particularly by the following general formula II:

R₁, R₂ and R₃ are identical or different radicals and are unsubstituted or hydroxylated alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having 4 to 15 carbon atoms which are unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxyl groups, aralkyl radicals having 7 to 15 carbon atoms which are unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxyl groups, or aryl radicals having. 6 to 15 carbon atoms which are unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxyl groups, it also being possible for two of the radicals R₁, R₂ or R₃ to form, together with the nitrogen atom and, if appropriate, with an oxygen heteroatom or another nitrogen heteroatom, a heterocyclic ring having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, or else the radicals R₁, R₂ and R₃ are each ethylene radicals which form, in combination with the quaternary nitrogen atom and another, tertiary nitrogen atom, a bicyclic triethylenediamine skeleton, R₅, R₆ and R₇ are identical or different and are hydrogen, an OH group, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 5 to 7 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, an alkynyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms or a group R₈—O— (CH₂)_(n) in which R₈ is hydrogen, an alkyl radical having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl radical having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, an aralkyl radical having 7 to 10 carbon atoms or an aryl radical having 6 to 10 carbon atoms; and n is an integer ranging from 1 to 6; it is also possible for R₇ to be a group OCOR₉ where R₉ is a C₁–C₆ alkyl group, preferably a C₁–C₄ alkyl group and, more particularly, the methyl group.

A preferred group of quaternary ammonium cations is made up of those compounds in which:

-   -   R₁, R₂ and R₃ are identical or different and are a linear C₁–C₄         alkyl group, preferably a C₁–C₃ alkyl group, more particularly a         C₁–C₂ alkyl group, and preferably methyl,     -   R₅ is H, OH, the methyl group or the hydroxymethyl group,     -   R₆ is H, OH, the methyl group or the hydroxymethyl group,     -   R₇ is H, OH, the methyl group, the hydroxymethyl group or the         acetyl group.

Another preferred group of quaternary ammonium cations is made up of those compounds in which:

-   -   R₁, R₂ and R₃ are identical or different and a C₁–C₄ alkyl         group, preferably a C₁–C₃ alkyl group, more particularly a C₁–C₂         alkyl group, and preferably methyl,     -   R₅ is H or a C₁–C₄ alkyl group,     -   R₆ is H, OH or a C₁–C₄ alkyl group,     -   R₇ is H, OH, a C₁–C₄ alkyl group or the acetyl group         where the total number of carbon atoms of R₁ to R₇ does not         exceed 8, preferably 6.

Still more advantageously, preference is given to those quaternary ammonium cations in which at least one, preferably two and, more preferably, the three groups R₁ to R₃ are the methyl group, R₅, R₆ and R₇ being as defined above, and preferably a single one of R₅ to R₇ being OH.

Another group of preferred quaternary ammonium cations is that in which R₁ to R₃ are a C₁–C₄ alkyl group or a C₁–C₄ hydroxyalkyl group and R₅ to R₇ are H or OH, the said compounds advantageously containing a single OH group in the omega position relative to the central nitrogen atom.

A more particularly preferred catalyst is choline hydrogencarbonate, especially when the isocyanate which it is desired to cyclotrimerize is a cycloaliphatic diisocyanate, such as NBDI, IPDI or H₁₂MDI, or a mixture of a cycloaliphatic diisocyanate as mentioned above and an aliphatic diisocyanate with a linear or branched chain, especially HDI.

Mention may also be made of tetramethylphosphonium or tetramethylsulphonium hydrogencarbonate and tetraphenylphosphonium or tetraphenylsulphonium hydrogencarbonate.

The catalysts according to the invention are known compounds.

They can be obtained, especially in the case of quaternary ammoniums, when R₇ is OH, by reacting a tertiary amine of general formula II:

in which R₁ to R₃ are as defined above

with an epoxide of general formula III:

in which R₄ and R₅ are as defined above in the presence of CO₂ and H₂O.

In the case of esters, the hydroxylated quaternary ammonium can be esterified using, for example, an acylimidazole. In the case of ethers, an excess of epoxy is employed.

The catalyst according to the invention can be used for the cyclotrimerization of any type of isocyanate, or mixture of isocyanates, whether aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic, including prepolymers having terminal isocyanate groups, especially those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,071, the content of which is incorporated by reference into the present application. It can therefore be used for the trimerization of isocyanates in the presence of various diols, triols and other polyols whose molecular weights are within a wide range, including polyols and aminopolyols containing polyether groups and polyester groups that are employed for the production of polyurethane resins and polyisocyanurates.

It is advantageously used for the cyclotrimerization of IPDI (isophorone diisocyanate, or 1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane), NBDI (norbornane diisocyanate, or 2,5(6)-diisocyanatomethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane) and H₁₂MDI (4,4′-dicyclohexylmethanediyl diisocyanate), alone or in a mixture with other diisocyanates, especially those having a linear aliphatic chain, such as HDI (hexamethylene diisocyanate).

Advantageously, the catalyst of the invention is added in an amount of between 300 and 5000 ppm, preferably between 500 and 3500 ppm, relative to the total amount of the initial isocyanates.

The catalyst is added to the reaction medium with stirring, preferably in the absence of solvent. The reaction is allowed to progress for a period of between 1 and 4 h, preferably about an hour and a half.

The reaction is advantageously conducted at a temperature between room temperature and 120 C, preferably between 40 and 100 C, advantageously under a neutral atmosphere.

The invention also relates to the use of the catalyst in a solid form as obtained, for example, by deposition of the catalyst on a mineral such as silica or by covalent fixing on a resin.

The invention also relates to a method of catalytic trimerization of isocyanates, especially diisocyanates, or of a mixture of isocyanates, especially a mixture of diisocyanates, characterized in that the trimerization catalyst used is a quaternary ammonium hydrogencarbonate as defined above.

It has also been found that the cyclotrimerization reaction can be substantially improved when imidazole or one of its derivatives is used as cocatalyst of a catalytic system based on a quaternary ammonium salt.

The invention therefore likewise relates to a method of preparing isocyanurate polyisocyanates by catalytic cyclotrimerization of isocyanates, in which a catalytic system is used which comprises a cyclotrimerization catalyst based on a quaternary ammonium salt as catalyst and imidazole or one of its derivatives as cocatalyst.

By imidazole derivatives are meant any compound comprising the imidazole ring and carrying one or more substituents which are customary in organic chemistry.

The imidazole derivatives correspond in particular to the general formula I:

in which R₁, R₂ and R₃ are identical or different and are selected from H, OH, SH, a C₁–C₄ alkyl, C₁–C₄ hydroxyalkyl, C₁–C₄ aminoalkyl, C₁–C₄ alkylamino, dialkylamino (each alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms), C₁–C₄ alkylthio, C₁–C₄ haloalkyl, C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅–C₁₀ aryl, (C₅–C₁₀ aryl)-C₁–C₄ alkyl or (C₁–C₄ alkyl)-C₅–C₁₀ aryl group, a heterocyclic group where the heterocycle comprises 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 1 to 4 identical or different heteroatoms selected from O, S and N and the group NR₄ in which R₄ is, in particular, C₁–C₄ alkyl or C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, and n is 0, 1 or 2.

Advantageously, the catalyst based on a quaternary ammonium salt is as defined above.

However, it is possible to use any known type of cyclotrimerization catalyst of the quaternary ammonium salt type.

Mention may be made in particular of the salts of compounds of the following general formula:

in which

-   R₁, R₂ and R₃ are identical or different radicals and are     unsubstituted or hydroxylated alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon     atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having 4 to 15 carbon atoms which are     unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxyl groups, aralkyl radicals     having 7 to 15 carbon atoms which are unsubstituted or substituted     by hydroxyl groups, or aryl radicals having 6 to 15 carbon atoms     which are unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxyl groups, it also     being possible for two of the radicals R₁, R₂ or R₃ to form,     together with the nitrogen atom and, if appropriate, with an oxygen     heteroatom or another nitrogen heteroatom, a heterocyclic ring     having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, or else the radicals R₁, R₂ and R₃ are     each ethylene radicals which form, in combination with the     quaternary nitrogen atom and another, tertiary nitrogen atom, a     bicyclic triethylenediamine skeleton, -   R₄ and R₅ are identical or different and are hydrogen and/or an     alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 5     to 7 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, an     alkynyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group     having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 10 carbon     atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms or a group     R₆—O—(CH₂)_(n) in which R₆ is hydrogen, an alkyl radical having 1 to     12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl radical having 4 to 10 carbon atoms,     an aralkyl radical having 7 to 10 carbon atoms or an aryl radical     having 6 to 10 carbon atoms; and -   n is an integer having a value from 1 to 6; and -   X⁻ is an anion advantageously selected from OH⁻ and the anions of     formula ⁻OOC—(O)_(a)—Y in which Y is selected from

a hydrogen atom,

an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms,

an alkenyl group having 2 to 15 carbon atoms,

a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms,

a phenyl group,

an alkylphenyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical or in the groups attached to the phenyl ring,

a benzyl group,

a carbamate group,

an alkylbenzyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical or in the groups attached to the benzyl ring, and

a group CH_((3-b))Z_((b)) in which b is an integer from 1 to 3 and Z is OH, CN, Cl, an alkoxy group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a phenyl or methoxyphenyl group, or

Z is (CH₂)_(d)COOR in which d is an integer from 0 to 4 and R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having up to 20 carbon atoms;

and a is zero or 1.

X is preferably carboxylate anions and the anion HCO₃ ⁻.

The compounds of the above general formula are described in EP 3765 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,992, the content of which is incorporated by reference into the present application.

When the isocyanate which it is desired to cyclotrimerize is a cycloaliphatic diisocyanate, such as NBDI, IPDI or H₁₂MDI, or a mixture of a cycloaliphatic diisocyanate and an aliphatic diisocyanate having a linear chain, especially HDI, it is preferred to use as catalyst a quaternary ammonium hydrogencarbonate as defined above, especially choline hydrogencarbonate.

The use of a catalytic system comprising a quaternary ammonium salt and imidazole or its derivatives, in accordance with the present invention, makes it possible to obtain an increase in the reactivity of the isocyanates, especially cycloaliphatic isocyanates, if appropriate in a mixture with aliphatic isocyanates having a linear chain, the said reactivity being able to be controlled in an effective manner substantially independent of the content of hydrolysable chlorine of the starting monomeric isocyanate(s).

In addition, the reaction mixture obtained at the end of the cyclotrimerization reaction, which may if appropriate be partial, has a level of coloration which is sharply reduced relative to that of a reaction mixture obtained in the absence of imidazole.

Moreover, the use of imidazole as cocatalyst of a cyclotrimerization reaction in which the catalyst is a quaternary ammonium salt results in the formation of a substantial quantity of uretdione-ring dimers of the initial isocyanate(s), which is suitable for improving the properties of the resulting mixture and, in particular, for reducing the viscosity of isocyanurate polyisocyanates.

Advantageously, imidazole is added with stirring to the isocyanate monomer(s) which it is desired to polymerize, preferably in the absence of solvent, and stirring is continued until a homogeneous mixture is obtained.

The catalyst is added while continuing stirring and while heating the reaction medium.

The reaction is allowed to proceed for a duration of between 1 and 4 h, preferably for about an hour and a half.

The use of imidazole as cocatalyst also makes it possible to reduce substantially the amount of catalyst required for the cyclotrimerization of the isocyanate(s).

It is sufficient, for example, to employ an amount of catalyst ranging from 100 to 300 ppm, preferably about 200 ppm, relative to the amount of initial isocyanate(s) when the amount of cocatalyst is from 400 to 800 ppm, preferably about 600 ppm, relative to the amount of initial isocyanate(s).

The cyclotrimerization reaction, in particular a partial cyclotrimerization reaction, is conducted at a temperature between room temperature and 120 C, advantageously from 60 to 70 C in the case of IPDI.

The invention also relates to a (poly)isocyanurate polyisocyanate composition obtained by the process according to the invention and comprising, in particular, the following compounds:

-   -   the trimer of NBDI,     -   the trimer of H₁₂MDI,     -   the trimer of IPDI,     -   the mixed NBDI/HDI, IPDI/HDI or H₁₂MDI/HDI trimers,         where the proportion of HDI can vary from 5 to 95% by eight.

The invention also relates to a (poly)isocyanurate polyisocyanate composition obtained by the process according to the invention, such a composition being characterized by the presence of products of reaction of initial isocyanate with the imidazole and of the polymerization products of these isocyanates, especially in the form of isocyanurates, with imidazole or one of its derivatives, it also being possible for these products to include biuret groups, carbamate groups and/or allophanate groups obtained by reaction of the isocyanate groups with the OH groups present in the catalyst.

The products obtained may subsequently undergo a chemical reaction: dimerization, allophanatization, biuretization, blocking reaction with a blocking (or masking) agent, either before or after distillation of the monomer.

The compounds obtained are used for the preparation of coatings, especially as base constituents for varnishes and paints.

The examples which follow illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of Isophorone Diisocyanate Trimer (IPDT)

A 1 l reactor is charged with 800 g of IPDI. The initial charge is stirred under a stream of argon and the temperature is raised to 85 C.

When the temperature has stabilized, 0.56 g (0.07% by weight) of choline bicarbonate is added. The reaction is allowed to continue for 3 hours, following the progression of the degree of conversion of IPDI by potentiometric measurement of the amount of NCO.

80 g of IPDT are obtained, corresponding to a degree of conversion of 10%.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of Isophorone Diisocyanate Trimer (IPDT)

The procedure of Example 1 is repeated but 1.6 g (0.2% by weight) of choline bicarbonate is added and the reaction mixture is heated to 60 C.

320 g of IPDT are obtained, corresponding to a degree of conversion of IPDI of 40%.

EXAMPLES 3 to 5 Comparative Examples

In addition, the reactivity of choline hydrogencarbonate was compared with that of choline hydroxide, choline bisulphite and choline bitartrate.

The results of Examples 1 to 5 are reported in the table below.

[cata] * Reaction % by temperature DC IPDI Examples Catalyst weight (C.) (%) 1 Choline 0.07 85 10 bicarbonate 2 Choline 0.2 60 40 bicarbonate 3 Choline 0.07 85 40 hydroxide 4 Choline 0.07 85 0 bisulphite 5 Choline 0.2 80 0 bitartrate * The [cata] figures are calculated on the basis of 100% choline salts.

It is apparent that, of the various choline salts, only the bicarbonate has a catalytic activity which is lower and more easy to control, namely an activity which is 2.8 times less than that of choline hydroxide.

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of IPDT

IPDI (800 g) is charged to a 1 l reactor and is stirred under a stream of argon.

Imidazole is introduced in an amount of 4 mmol/100 g of IPDI at room temperature. Stirring is continued and the reaction medium is brought to 80 C. When the temperature is stabilized, choline bicarbonate is introduced (0.05% by weight). The progress of the reaction is monitored by measuring the degree of conversion (DC) of the IPDI over time by potentiometric measurement of the amount of NCO.

The reaction is continued for a period of an hour and a half. The resulting degree of conversion of the IPDI is about 70%.

EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of IPDT

The procedure of Example 6 is repeated but the amount of catalyst introduced is 0.028% by weight.

The reaction is continued at 80 C for a period of two hours. The degree of conversion of the IPDI is 60%.

EXAMPLES 8 and 9 Comparative Example

The procedure of Example 6 is repeated but without the introduction of imidazole. The amounts of catalyst (choline hydrogencarbonate) are 0.2% and 0.15% by weight.

The coloration of the reaction medium is evaluated in accordance with the method AFNOR NF T20605 or ASTM D1209.84.

In order to promote reactivity and to limit the development of coloration, the IPDI is redistilled prior to the trimerization reaction.

The results are reported in the table below.

Reac- tion tem- DC [cata] [cocata] pera- of APHA % by mmol/ ture IPDI colour Ex. Catalyst Cocatalyst weight 100 g in C. in % no. 6 Choline Imidazole 0.05 4 80 70 70 bicarbonate 7 Choline Imidazole 0.028 4 80 60 60 bicarbonate 8 Choline None 0.2 0 80 50 140 bicarbonate 9 Choline None 0.15 0 80 32 140 bicarbonate

The fact of redistilling the IPDI does not improve the coloration level of the crude synthesis product (140 APHA). On the other hand, the conversion kinetics are markedly more rapid. A 25% reduction in the catalyst content (Example 9) limits the degree of conversion of the IPDI but does not affect the coloration.

The addition of imidazole, surprisingly, accelerates greatly the trimerization kinetics even with a catalyst content which is eight times smaller (Example 7) while reducing the coloration of the crude synthesis product by half (60–70 APHA). Moreover, the formation of IPDI trimer is accompanied by the co-production of dimer.

The trimerization kinetics are shown in the attached figure.

The effect of imidazole on the initial rate of conversion is spectacular, with the required reaction times being halved (slower end of reaction). It is not necessary to deactivate the catalyst, which would suggest in situ decomposition. 

1. A method of preparing polyisocyanurate polyisocyanates by catalytic cyclotrimerization of monomeric isocyanates comprising: adding to a reaction medium comprising said isocyanates a catalytic system which comprises imidazole or one of its derivatives; allowing the reaction to progress and for a period between 1 and 4 hours at a temperature between room temperature and 120° C.; and isolating the product obtained thereby.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the imidazole is of general formula I:

in which R₁, R₂ and R₃ are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, OH, SH, a C₁–C₄ alkyl, C₁–C₄ hydroxyalkyl, C₁–C₄ aminoalkyl, C₁–C₄ alkylamino, di(C₁–C₄)alkylamino, C₁–C₄ alkylthio, C₁–C₄ haloalkyl, C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅–C₁₀ aryl, (C₅–C₁₀ aryl)-C₁–C₄ alkyl, (C₁–C₄ alkyl)-C₅–C₁₀ aryl group, a heterocyclic group where the heterocycle has 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 1 to 4 identical or different heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N and the group NR₄ in which R₄ is C₁–C₄ alkyl or C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, and n is 0, 1 or
 2. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the imidazole is of general formula I:

in which R₁ represents hydrogen, R₂ and R₃ are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, OH, SH, a C₁–C₄ alkyl, C₁–C₄ hydroxyalkyl, C₁–C₄ aminoalkyl, C₁–C₄ alkylamino, di(C₁–C₄)alkylamino, C₁–C₄ alkylthio, C₁–C₄ haloalkyl, C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅–C₁₀ aryl, (C₅–C₁₀ aryl)-C₁–C₄ alkyl, (C₁–C₄ alkyl)-C₅–C₁₀ aryl group, a heterocyclic group where the heterocycle has 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 1 to 4 identical or different heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N and the group NR₄ in which R₄ is C₁–C₄ alkyl or C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, and n is 0, 1 or
 2. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the imidazole is of general formula I:

in which R₁, R₂ each represents hydrogen and R₃ is selected from H, OH, SH, a C₁–C₄ alkyl, C₁–C₄ hydroxyalkyl, C₁–C₄ aminoalkyl, C₁–C₄ alkylamino, di(C₁–C₄)alkylamino, C₁–C₄ alkylthio, C₁–C₄ haloalkyl, C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅–C₁₀ aryl, (C₅–C₁₀ aryl)-C₁–C₄ alkyalkyl)-C₅–C₁₀ aryl group, a heterocyclic group where the heterocycle has 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 1 to 4 identical or different heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N and the group NR₄ in which R₄ is C₁–C₄ alkyl or C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, and n is 0, 1 or
 2. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the imidazole is of general formula I:

in which R₁, R₂ and R₃ each represents hydrogen.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of imidazole or derivative thereof is from 400 to 800 ppm, relative to the monomeric isocyanate.
 7. The method of claim 1, comprising the preparation of isophorone diisocyanate trimer or of a mixed isophorone diisocyanate and hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer in which the proportion of hexamethylene diisocyanate varies from 5 to 95% by weight.
 8. The method of claim 1, comprising the preparation of norbomane diisocyanate trimer or of a mixed norbornane diisocyanate and hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer in which the proportion of hexamethylene diisocyanate varies from 5 to 95% by weight.
 9. The method of claim 1, comprising the preparation of 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethanediyl diisocyanate trimer or of a mixed 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethanediyl diisocyanate and hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer in which the proportion of hexamethylene diisocyanate varies from 5 to 95% by weight.
 10. A composition of polyisocyanurate polyisocyanates obtained by cyclotrimerization of isocyanates, alone or in a mixture, according to the method of claim
 1. 11. A composition of polyisocyanurate polyisocyanates wherein the composition is a product of reaction of a monomeric and/or trimeric isocyanate in the presence of imidazole or one of its derivatives, corresponding to the following general formula:

in which R₁, R₂ and R₃ are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, OH, SH, a C₁–C₄ alkyl, C₁–C₄ hydroxyalkyl, C₁–C₄ aminoalkyl, C₁–C₄ alkylamino, di(C₁–C₄)alkylamino, C₁–C₄ alkylthio, C₁–C₄ haloalkyl, C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅–C₁₀ aryl, (C₅–C₁₀ aryl)-C₁–C₄ alkyl, (C₁–C₄ alkyl)-C₅–C₁₀ aryl group, a heterocyclic group where the heterocycle has 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 1 to 4 identical or different heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N and the group NR₄ in which R₄ is C₁–C₄ alkyl or C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, and n is 0, 1 or
 2. 12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the composition is a product of reaction of a monomeric and/or trimeric isocyanate in the presence of imidazole or one of its derivatives, corresponding to the following general formula:

in which R₁ represents hydrogen, R₂ and R₃ are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, OH, SH, a C₁–C₄ alkyl, C₁–C₄ hydroxyalkyl, C₁–C₄ aminoalkyl, C₁–C₄ alkylamino, di(C₁–C₄)alkylamino, C₁–C₄ alkylthio, C₁–C₄ haloalkyl, C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅–C₁₀ aryl, (C₅–C₁₀ aryl)-C₁–C₄ alkyl, (C₁–C₄ alkyl)-C₅–C₁₀ aryl group, a heterocyclic group where the heterocycle has 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 1 to 4 identical or different heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N and the group NR₄ in which R₄ is C₁–C₄ alkyl or C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, and n is 0, 1 or
 2. 13. The composition of claim 11, wherein the composition is a product of reaction of a monomeric and/or trimeric isocyanate in the presence of imidazole or one of its derivatives, corresponding to the following general formula:

in which R₁ and R₂ each represents hydrogen, R₃ is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, SH, a C₁–C₄ alkyl, C₁–C₄ hydroxyalkyl, C₁–C₄ aminoalkyl, C₁–C₄ alkylamino, di(C₁–C₄)alkylamino, C₁–C₄ alkylthio, C₁–C₄ haloalkyl, C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅–C₁₀ aryl, (C₅–C₁₀ aryl)-C₁–C₄ alkyl, (C₁–C₄ alkyl)-C₅–C₁₀ aryl group, a heterocyclic group where the heterocycle has 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 1 to 4 identical or different heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N and the group NR₄ in which R₄ is C₁–C₄ alkyl or C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl, and n is 0, 1 or
 2. 14. The composition of claim 11, wherein the composition is a product of reaction of a monomeric and/or trimeric isocyanate in the presence of imidazole or one of its derivatives, corresponding to the following general formula:

in which R₁, R₂ and R₃ each represents hydrogen. 